Page 14 of Someone Like You

Giselle

I paced the floor of my office, wearing a pattern on the textured carpet.

Why had I accepted the appointment? It would be so easy just to say no.

After all, they had long since canceled my services.

When Imani had entered my office an hour earlier telling me about the last-minute scheduling, I should have said no.

However, Imani shared that he had pleaded to be penciled in because it was an emergency.

There was no way that I could not say no.

He was going to be the last appointment of my day.

What did he want to talk to me about? What would he say? How would I respond to him? After the heated dance and kiss that we shared on Saturday night, I needed to stay as far away from him as possible.

Hopping up from my chair, I grabbed my white lab coat from the back of the door and put it on. Buttoning it from the bottom to the very top button, I knew I would look strange. I seldom placed the coat on, but considering the outfit I wore today, it might be for the best.

I would not normally think twice about my crème mini skirt and red, satin, short-sleeved blouse with the plunging neckline.

All things considered, Casimir would not look at me like my other clients, not after Saturday.

Without a doubt, I knew this would be his last session.

I planned to hand him the cards of two other therapists he could call if he wanted to continue counseling.

My eyes glanced back to the two cards sitting side by side. Dr. Miriam Lassiter and Greg and Regina Dubois.

I stepped outside my office for a moment and walked into the lobby. “Imani, when Mr. Per—”

My words were cut off as the outer door of the office opened, revealing the man himself. His eyes dropped to the lab coat I wore and back up to my eyes. His eyes held a look of disappointment.

“Mr. Perez, you’re here early,” I said, glancing at my watch.

“I know. Can you still take me?” Casimir asked, never taking his eyes off me.

“Sure,” I replied, holding his glance as well.

I led the way to my office and never once turned to look at Imani. I knew I’d hear all about it later after Casimir left.

I closed the door firmly before turning to face him. Casimir had not taken his normal seat on the couch as he always did. Instead, he stood behind me with his arms crossed over his chest.

“So, what did you need to see me about?” I asked, removing my glasses from my face and nervously cleaning them on the hem of my lab coat.

“Saturday.”

Dropping my glasses on the floor, I kneeled to pick them up, only to brush hands with him, as he had the same intention I did.

“Thank you,” I replied, standing up and holding the edge of my desk to steady my movements.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes darkening and a slight smile tilting those full, luscious lips.

“Yes, Casimir. Um, have a seat, please,” I said, gesturing to the couch and walking around the desk to my chair. I froze in place when I felt his hand on my lower waist.

“Don’t do this.”

Spinning around, I furrowed my eyebrows and stared up at him. “Do what, Casimir?”

“Act like nothing happened Saturday night.”

“Nothing did happen, Casimir.”

“That’s how we’re going to play this thing, huh?” he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

I knew I was wrong to have encouraged the attraction and flirtation we had. I should have never allowed it to go on for as long as it had but instead should have addressed it and cut it off. There had been plenty of opportunities to discuss it after he had shown up without Bethany.

“Casimir, for obvious reasons, we are both out of line here. Especially me. I have a moral obligation to steer my clients in the right direction, and the moment an attraction stemmed between us—”

He reached out and grabbed my hand, holding me in place. “So, you admit you’re attracted to me too?”

“That’s not the point of this discussion, Casimir.”

“But that’s why I came.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t have,” I chided, then flinched when I saw the look of hurt in his eyes. “Look, I could lose my license over this, and I haven’t worked this hard, nor have I come this far to throw it away over some . . . fling!” I argued.

“Fling? We haven’t even done anything yet,” he argued back, frowning at me.

“Yet? That’s my point, Casimir. Nothing will happen because I won’t allow it. You’re my client.”

“Not anymore,” he replied in a low tone.

“But you were. The state of Georgia is not like the American Psychological Association, which suggests a waiting period before we can engage in romantic or intimate relationships with former clients. Georgia enforces an indefinite period after termination of services. Someone could file an ethics complaint against me, causing me to lose my license. Is that what you want?”

“No, but—”

“Then I suggest you drop all of this. It’s not in either of our best interests.” I pulled away and walked to my chair, pulling it out and dropping down in it.

Staring at my hands for a moment, I felt as if I were the one seeking therapy as he waited for me to speak.

“Casimir, we are . . . both in a vulnerable place. You just ended your marriage, and you’re seeking something that your wife couldn’t give to you. Then here I am helping you sort through all these feelings, and so it’s natural that you would turn that attraction my way.”

He sneered at me. “If it’s that simple, Doc, then what’s your excuse?”

“I’m . . . I’m grieving. Naturally, this would happen when an attractive male shows interest in me.

I might react in a way that I shouldn’t, especially when someone such as yourself lets your guard down and shares your most intimate thoughts.

It’s natural,” I repeated and shrugged my shoulders as if the answer were obvious.

“Really? Surely, I’m not the first guy to come along and express interest in you, Doc.”

“No, you’re not. Yet, you’re . . .” I allowed that thought to remain unspoken. I was treading in dangerous waters.

“I’m what?” he urged.

I breathed a sigh of relief as he finally took his seat.

“I’m not the one here for counseling. What is it that I can do for you, Casimir?”

“I’m the only one you’ve been attracted to. That’s what you were going to say. Wasn’t it?”

My eyes shifted away from his as I turned to face my computer monitor. I tapped a couple of keys, my computer fired up, and I was logged in within seconds.

“I have a couple of therapists that I think you should consider. One of them is a reputable therapist with more than thirty years in marital counseling. The other is actually a couple, and they are Christian and—”

“Dammit, Giselle! I don’t need counseling. I’m no longer married.”

“Then I don’t understand, Casimir. Why are you here?”

“Because . . . I need you.”

My heart thudded in my chest, and just the mere mention of his needing me turned me on. Rather than address that comment, I turned the query back on him.

“Why did you file for divorce, Casimir?”

“Because I was tired of living a lie. It’s like I always knew that I was, and for a while, it was perfectly acceptable.

This last year became more difficult, making me realize I couldn’t continue my life like that.

Then I came here . . . and you gave me a different perspective.

The thing that I admire about you is that you are true to yourself, and I know that I don’t know you as well as you know me, but I can tell that about you.

You’re true to your culture, your roots, who you are as a woman and person.

I respect that, and it has encouraged me.

“This divorce isn’t just something that I thought of overnight. It’s something I’ve been contemplating for more than a year but just had the courage to do. It’s part of a soul-searching journey that I’m on,” he said, balling his fists up and pressing them against his chest to emphasize his point.

“Then you need to do that on your own. Trying to draw me into your life right now will only further complicate things, Casimir.”

Shaking his head, he countered. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Casimir, how do you think your actions are going to impact your family? Everyone knows they’re in the middle of an election year. Although you’ve divorced her, maybe you should stand by her side right now.”

“You’re speaking from a place of desperation.

I don’t believe you feel that way. You’ve always encouraged both Bethany and me to be true to who we are and our feelings about one another and our lives, no matter how painful.

So, realistically, I don’t really care about the impact my decisions will have on the political campaign.

Hell, he doesn’t care about me like that.

I’m nothing more than a pawn in his game, and this is my life. I’m ready to live it again.”

“As difficult as it is for me to say this, I don’t think that I served the purpose that I was supposed to.

Perhaps, because of my selfish interests, I may have misguided you in some of my advice and the way I handled this entire manner.

Casimir, I have my own soul-searching to do, but I’d like to encourage you to take some time for yourself.

Get your heart and mind right before you pursue anything with anyone.

At least seek the advice of another therapist, if nothing else.

Please,” I reiterated when he opened his mouth to speak.

“I am a thirty-eight-year-old man who had the opportunity to travel the world at an early age. I’ve seen a lot and been exposed to more than most people ever will in a lifetime.

I’m a humble and thoughtful man, never one to jump to conclusions or make decisions lightly.

I will give you the time that you need to reconcile your heart and your mind, because, obviously, you need it.

But me?” he commented, standing up and straightening his suit jacket.

“I already know what I want. I’m not delusional, and this attraction isn’t some form of hero worship, as you reference.

Another thing I am is patient . . . but don’t wear it thin.

I will be back, and when I do, you won’t know what hit you. ”

I stood with my mouth hanging slightly open as I watched him walk out of my office, knowing that he wasn’t walking out of my life.